was diagnosed with stage 2b rectal cancer in may 2016 , the initial CEA level was 12.5 for normal range <5 . Treatment was 28 radiation sessions accompanied by chemotherapy xeloda . Local tumer resection and anastomoses b/w remain rectum and colon and loop iliostomy preformed in August the same year and in march 2017 the CEA was 18.6 for normal range <10 … clear CT scan .. what can cause presistent Elevated CEA ?

Welcome to GRACE. It’s great to hear that your follow-up CT was clear; that’s the best indication of what’s going on with the cancer.

There are a number of non-cancerous conditions which can cause an elevated CEA, including ulcerative colitis, pancreatitis, cirrhosis, COPD, Crohn’s disease and hypothyroidism. You may want to discuss your levels with your doctor, who can evaluate the CEA test results in the context of your overall medical history.